b's 2013 Baltimore college guide [Pictures]

CaptionThe college life

Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun

Dear new college students, Have a second? We know -- not really. College is getting under way and you're busy moving into the dorms, awkwardly trying to bond with your roommate and realizing how many 100-pound textbooks you'll need to lug around campus. But give us a moment. Yes, you've gone...

Dear new college students, Have a second? We know -- not really. College is getting under way and you're busy moving into the dorms, awkwardly trying to bond with your roommate and realizing how many 100-pound textbooks you'll need to lug around campus. But give us a moment. Yes, you've gone... (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)

What surprised me most about Baltimore: The amount of diversity that this campus provides was shocking to me, along with the number of abandoned homes on North Ave. Best school events: Midnight Madness definitely brings the surrounding community into Coppin. Also the Morgan vs. Coppin...

What surprised me most about Baltimore: The amount of diversity that this campus provides was shocking to me, along with the number of abandoned homes on North Ave. Best school events: Midnight Madness definitely brings the surrounding community into Coppin. Also the Morgan vs. Coppin... (Gene Sweeney Jr. / Baltimore Sun)

What surprised me most about Baltimore: I was actually warned before coming here that Baltimore was not only crime-filled but boring and kind of lame. I have been going to school around here and am a new resident to the city proper, and I have to say that I am absolutely in love with the...

What surprised me most about Baltimore: I was actually warned before coming here that Baltimore was not only crime-filled but boring and kind of lame. I have been going to school around here and am a new resident to the city proper, and I have to say that I am absolutely in love with the... (KENNETH K. LAM / Baltimore Sun)

What surprised me most about Baltimore: One of the most remarkable things about Baltimore is that the people here have managed to retain the easygoing nature and sincerity that are among the best-loved qualities of-small town America without sacrificing the vibrancy and cultural gravitas...

What surprised me most about Baltimore: One of the most remarkable things about Baltimore is that the people here have managed to retain the easygoing nature and sincerity that are among the best-loved qualities of-small town America without sacrificing the vibrancy and cultural gravitas... (Jed Kirschbaum / Baltimore Sun)

What surprised me most about Baltimore: All the different neighborhoods and their unique characteristics. You can hang out in Hampden for Honfest and grab a cheap yet awesome dinner, or you can head down to Federal Hill to go out and grab a drink, or even Harbor East to take a date for a nice...

What surprised me most about Baltimore: All the different neighborhoods and their unique characteristics. You can hang out in Hampden for Honfest and grab a cheap yet awesome dinner, or you can head down to Federal Hill to go out and grab a drink, or even Harbor East to take a date for a nice... (Jason Fritz / Patuxent Publishing)